EnergyAustralia today announced that, following an extensive domestic and international search, Ms Catherine Tanna will become the Company’s new Managing Director effective 1 July 2014.
Ms Tanna will succeed Mr Richard McIndoe, EnergyAustralia’s Managing Director for the past eight years. Mr McIndoe announced his intention to leave EnergyAustralia in December 2013.
Ms Tanna has been a senior executive with the BG Group since 2009 and that Group’s Chairman in Australia since 2012. She has extensive experience in the gas and energy sector having had various commercial roles at BHP Petroleum before joining Royal Dutch Shell where she held numerous senior positions in Australia, The Americas, Africa and Asia from 1998 to 2009. Ms Tanna was appointed to the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia in April 2011.
EnergyAustralia Chairman, Graham Bradley, said: “The Board is very pleased to have appointed someone with Catherine’s stature and experience to lead EnergyAustralia through the next phase of its consolidation and growth.
“The strong leadership Catherine has shown in previous roles, coupled with a deep understanding and experience across the energy sector, will stand her in good stead for navigating us through the challenges we face in the external market including the complex regulatory and market forces at work in our sector.
“We look forward to working with her and we are confident she will help to achieve the company’s full potential over coming years.
“I would also like to acknowledge departing Managing Director Richard McIndoe’s stewardship in driving the significant expansion of EnergyAustralia’s operations from a stake in the Yallourn Power Station to one of the top three integrated energy companies in Australia,” said Mr Bradley.
Ms Tanna said: “I am thrilled to be joining EnergyAustralia, a business that has been through a fast trajectory of growth and has established a solid foundation from which to grow.
“It is a privilege to work in the energy sector, particularly to provide an essential service to millions of customers in Australia.
“Energy markets are undergoing significant change and it is an exciting time to lead a strong business as it adapts while seeking to exceed the expectations of our 2.7 million customers.”
Ms Tanna and her family will relocate to Melbourne from Brisbane to take up her new role. She will continue to serve on the RBA Board and represent EnergyAustralia as a member of the Business Council of Australia.